20 Dollars - Elizabeth II Viola Desmond

Reverse

Your coin features a reproduction of an iconic photograph of Viola Desmond, whose signature is reproduced from a diploma issued by the Desmond Studio of Beauty Culture. Double dates commemorate Viola Desmond’s birth date (“1914”) and the year of her passing (“1965”), while the necklace in the photograph inspired the stylized heart.

Scripts: Latin, Latin (cursive)

Lettering:
CANADA
Viola
Desmond
1914 ♥ 1965

Edge

Serrated

Comment

Viola Desmond sparked a movement by standing firm in the face of injustice. On November 8, 1946, she was arrested after she refused to sit in a segregated section of a movie theatre. Her act of courage, and the legal challenge that ensued, became a rallying point for equal rights in Canada. Your coin honours civil rights pioneer Viola Desmond, whose signature appears on the coin. While the script text is a nod to the Halifax businesswoman’s line of beauty products, the photo-based design is a lasting reminder that one person can inspire change.

The Royal Canadian Mint proudly presented the coin to Viola Desmond’s sister,
Ms. Wanda Robson, on January 23 at her home in Nova Scotia.

“We worked closely with Viola Desmond’s sister, Ms. Wanda Robson, to ensure Viola’s story was shared accurately.” Matt Eggink, Product Manager, Royal Canadian Mint

Did you know…
Viola Desmond was a successful entrepreneur and a mentor.
At a time when beauty schools and shops were often segregated, Desmond opened Vi’s Studio of Beauty Culture in 1937, followed by the Desmond School of Beauty Culture. Her next business venture was the launch of Vi’s Beauty Products (branded SEPIA), a successful line of skin and hair care products that bore her name and likeness—similar to the coin’s reverse.
Desmond was charged with tax evasion.
Since segregation wasn’t legally enforced, Desmond was charged, convicted and fined for failure to pay the one-cent difference on the amusement tax on the pricier lower-level seat. In fact, Desmond had attempted to exchange her balcony-level ticket and pay the difference, but she was denied based on the colour of her skin.
Her conviction galvanized a community.
Attempts to overturn Desmond’s conviction were unsuccessful, but the injustice paved the way for new legislation in the 1950s and 1960s that prohibited racial discrimination in Nova Scotia. Finally, on April 15, 2010, Desmond was posthumously granted a pardon, along with an apology and a public declaration that her case had been a miscarriage of justice.

Interesting fact

Price

Date	Mintage	VG	F	VF	XF	AU	UNC
2019	8000	-	-	-	-	-	-

Values in the table are based on evaluations by sales realized on Internet platforms. They serve as an indication only for 20 Dollars - Elizabeth II (Viola Desmond) 2019 coin.